Mahlab is a fragrant spice with a slightly yellowish color and a hard texture. It has a wonderful unique aroma and is mainly used in pastry and baking recipes. It is strongly aromatic, so it should be used sparingly.

A minimal amount is more than enough to flavor and impart its sweet taste to baked goods, breads, and bagels. It is associated with the celebrations of Christmas and Easter and is used in traditional festive dishes.

The gastronomic note it provides to vasilopita and tsoureki is distinctive. The seed of mahlab is found in the pit of a wild cherry and is more commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisines. In Greece, we mainly use it in sweet recipes, but it can also flavor soups and roasted vegetables.